Deuteronomy 9: Lessons For Being an Intercessory Prayer Warrior

Introduction: The Word of God is alive. The Holy Spirit can give different messages from the exact same text. Deuteronomy chapter 9 is a perfect example of this. It also has more than one message.

Message No. 1. Have Faith in Your Battles Because God Loves You Despite Your Sins. A casual reading of Deuteronomy Chapter 9 reveals God’s encouragement to a nation that was about to face enemies that were (by the world’s standards) mightier than they were. God gave the same encouragement in Chapter 1. He will sometimes repeat a message to draw emphasis. With faith in Him, He would win the Jews’ battles against mightier nations that awaited them. Yet, His mercy, grace, and His blessings needed to be accepted in humility. His actions on behalf of the Jews were completely underserved. He reminded the Jews that that they repeatedly rebelled in the wilderness. Without Moses’ intervention, He would have destroyed them. You too can benefit from this message. He wants you to have faith in Him to win your battles. Yet, you must be humble.

Message No. 2. Be an Intercessory Prayer Warrior to Reverse the Curses Upon Others. In addition to helping to encourage you, God also wants you to draw a lesson from this chapter to help others. The devil has armies of demons that we cannot face on our own. He has enslaved the nations of the world to sin. This has caused the people of Earth to bring curses upon themselves ranging from addictions, materialism, to self-idolatry. God wants you to be the Moses in this story. He wants you to help reverse the self-imposed curses on the unrighteous and undeserving nations of Earth. Yet, to be an intercessory warrior in His army, you should learn seven lessons from this chapter. First, you need to have faith that your prayers will prevail over a much bigger spiritual enemy. If you don’t believe in intercessory prayer, the devil has already won. Second, for God to use you, you must be humble. Third, for Him to use you, you should repent of any sin in your heart. Fourth, for Him to use you, be grateful for the grace you have received. Fifth, to be an effective intercessor, you must have a love for those who do not deserve to be loved. Sixth, to be an effective intercessor, you must forgive people who do not deserve to be forgiven. If you can’t forgive them, why should God listen to your requests that He do so? Finally, to be an effective intercessor, you must be steadfast in your prayers for the undeserving. Through his steadfast prayers and fasting, Moses helped to lift the curses that the Jewish nation had brought upon itself. God is looking for you to do the same.

Love others by praying for them1

1) Faith: With God, All Things are Possible. Dt. 9:1-3; 1:27-31.

Pray with faith in God’s power2

2) Humility: For God to Use You, Be Humble and Credit God for Your Success. Dt. 9:1-5.

Be humble and grateful when you pray3

3) Repentance: Be Repentant of Your Stubborn Heart. Dt. 9:6-7

Pray for God to forgive you and cleanse you4

4) Gratitude: Be Grateful because God's Grace in Using You is Undeserved. Dt. 9:8-13.

5) Love: Love for the undeserving will cover a multitude of sins. Dt. 9:14-21.

Moses loved God’s people and was burdened by their sins against God5

6) Forgiveness: Forgive the Undeserving as God Has Forgiven You. Dt. 9:22-24.

In response to Moses’ intercessory prayers, God repeatedly forgave the Jews. Moses named a few of these rebellions. “Again at Taberah and at Massah and at Kibroth-hattaavah you provoked the LORD to wrath. When the LORD sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, ‘Go up and possess the land which I have given you,’ then you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God; you neither believed Him nor listened to His voice.” (Dt. 9:22-23). God repeatedly forgave the people as an example to us.

7) Steadfastness: Your Prayers for the Unrighteous Must be Ongoing. Dt. 9:25-29.